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US 2025/0176091 A1Published application
Ion source for neutron generator usable in wellbore
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsZilu Zhou, Weijun Guo
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A neutron generator with an ion source within a housing may be used for generating neutrons for neutron logging downhole in a wellbore. The ion source within the housing of the neutron generator may include a hot cathode, an ion source cylinder, a first grid separated from the ion source cylinder, and an extractor separated from the ion source cylinder, the extractor having a second grid.
Claims20
A neutron generator comprising:
- an ion source within a housing for generating neutrons for neutron logging downhole in a wellbore, the ion source comprising:
- a hot cathode;
- an ion source cylinder;
- a first grid separated from the ion source cylinder;
- an extractor separated from the ion source cylinder, the extractor having a second grid, wherein the second grid is a convex-shaped grid;
- and
- a gas reservoir for containing and providing an ionizable gas to the ion source, wherein the ionizable gas comprises a combination of deuterium and tritium;
- and
- a target system spaced apart from the ion source, the target system comprising:
- a target rod and a suppressor located within the housing facing the ion source;
- a corona shield coupled with the suppressor and the housing to adjust an electric field adjacent to an outside of the housing;
- and
- a target film located on a surface of the target rod, wherein the target film comprises:
- a second ionizable gas having the same composition as the ionizable gas;
- and
- a first metal material that is different than a second metal material of the target rod.
13 more elements
A logging tool comprising:
- a sensor device positionable in a wellbore;
- and
- a neutron generator for generating neutrons for neutron logging, the neutron generator comprising:
- an ion source within a housing for generating neutrons for neutron logging downhole in a wellbore, the ion source comprising:
- a hot cathode;
- an ion source cylinder;
- a first grid separated from the ion source cylinder;
- an extractor separated from the ion source cylinder, the extractor having a second grid, wherein the second grid is a convex-shaped grid;
- and
- a gas reservoir for containing and providing an ionizable gas to the ion source, wherein the ionizable gas comprises a combination of deuterium and tritium;
- and
- a target system spaced apart from the ion source, the target system comprising:
- a target rod and a suppressor located within the housing facing the ion source;
- a corona shield coupled with the suppressor and the housing to adjust an electric field adjacent to an outside of the housing;
- and
- a target film located on a surface of the target rod, wherein the target film comprises:
- a second ionizable gas having the same composition as the ionizable gas;
- and
- a first metal material that is different than a second metal material of the target rod.
16 more elements
A method comprising:
- deploying a logging tool having a neutron generator into a wellbore, the neutron generator comprising an ion source that includes:
- a hot cathode;
- an ion source cylinder;
- a first grid separated from the ion source cylinder;
- an extractor separated from the ion source cylinder, the extractor having a second grid, wherein the second grid is a convex-shaped grid;
- and
- a gas reservoir for containing and providing an ionizable gas to the ion source, wherein the ionizable gas comprises a combination of deuterium and tritium;
- ionizing an ionizable gas within the ion source with the ion source cylinder separated from the first grid to create a plurality of ions;
- accelerating the plurality of ions toward a target system and generating a plurality of neutrons, the target system comprising:
- a target rod and a suppressor located within the housing facing the ion source;
- a corona shield coupled with the suppressor and the housing to adjust an electric field adjacent to an outside of the housing;
- and
- a target film located on a surface of the target rod, wherein the target film comprises:
- a second ionizable gas having the same composition as the ionizable gas;
- and
- a first metal material that is different than a second metal material of the target rod;
- transmitting the plurality of neutrons from the neutron generator into a formation surrounding the wellbore;
- and
- receiving a signal measurement related to the plurality of neutrons at one or more sensors in the logging tool.
16 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.